Crossopetalum coriaceum

Crossopetalum coriaceum Northrop

Family: Celestraceae

Habit: Crossopetalum coriaceum grows as a shrub to 1 meter. The leaves are arranged oppositely, ovate to obovate, to 4 cm in length,  thick/coriaceous with an entire margin and a round leaf apex.

The complete, perfect, actinomorphic flowers are arranged in many flowered terminal and axillary groups.  The calyx has 2 unfused greenish sepals.  The corolla has 4 unfused greenish-white petals.  There are 4 stamens.  The inferior ovary has 4 locules.  The fruit is a red berry at maturity that is sessile on the stem.

Habitat: Crossopetalum coriaceum grows in sand and limestone in Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formation – Shrubland (coppice).

Distribution: Crossopetalum coriaceum occurs in the northern and central island groupings in the Lucayan Archipelago and in Cuba.

Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Crossopetalum coriaceum is not known to be used medicinally use in the Lucayan Archipelago.